New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-12-04
MRS. OCKDYNES FRIGHT.
c. II. CRANDALL.

acted as though she were a sncuarly hcartlcSS and
dccctml woman. Taking advantage of the temporary
absence of the doctor who had pronounced that fatal
issue Of the sick mans malady humanity speak
Ing. inevitable, Mrs. Ockdyuc possessed herself OF
her husbands keys, and crept stealthly down to his
study. whore she unlocked drawer in his cScroirc'
and took from il n bundle of documents, which she
carefully concealed about her person She then re
turned to the sckrOOm, replaced the Keys Win a
trembling hand beneath the pillow which the dying
mans head rested. and resumed the anxious and
watchful position by the bedside which She had occn
pied for many hours previously. But she looked 50
pac and agitatcd that the doctor, who made his cp
pcaIancc minute aftcrward, accompucd by his as
sSant glanced kccnly her and saidin percmptory
tone
Mrs. Ockdync. you must really obey my drcc
lions Please go to your room ana resi-, anu tame
some refrcshmcnt. Your husband may remain in his
present for hours. and you arc already over
wrought and fatIgucd If the slightest symptom Of
change occurs You shall be sent for Instantly
would rather remain" said Mis-. Ochdync, with
decision
The doctor shrugged his shoulders iwahly, and
turned his attention TO the patient whose labofcd ana
stcnoran breathing rendered inaudillc the whispered
consultation which cnsucd between the medical men.
This was interrupted by the entrance of William ock
dyrc the younger brother and partner Of the invalid
tail. stern. elderly, unSympai hctc-loohnS lndlNd
ual, with cold, steel blue eyes, which, after Il quick
glance the unconscious form upon the bed he di.
rccied with suspicious scrutiny upon the pale face OF
his sisterin-law as she advanced TO greet him.
How long has he been like this 70 he inquired,
abruptly.
since Midnight answered Mrs. Ocldyne.
"Why did not You send for me lcioIc!' he de
mandcd in a harsh. unpleasant voice
Il sent for you as Dr. 1hornc pronounced
tho case to be hopeless said Mis-. Ockdyne tten-
ulously.
Mrs. Ocldync evidently resented this cross cNamna-
ton for some wcchty and Lcr handsome feat
uics hardened while her brother ln-law spoke. VIII
lam Ockdync, whether consciously or otherwise cvdd
Cd her glance and his cold, blue eyes ranged roand
the apartment with a look Of cunning Suspicion
Come. Mrs. Ochdyne.7 said the doctor removing
hi, fingers sick mans pulse nov that your
brothcr- nlaw has arrived you need have no hesitation
about going 20 your room We viii remain here, and
will remember my promi>H'
Either yielding To the doctors persuasion. or In
consequence Of tie unca>ncsS and aversion which the
presence OF her Llothcr-lnaw evidently caused her.
Mrs. OcLlyne no longer persisted in her objection
bus rose from her chair without word and left the
room with air Of suppressed agitation and en-"
ton Walking quickly along the Ia~sae" and down
the staircase. She entered small sitting room on the
halflandng and having closed and locked the door
behind her. she fell in almost fa.nune condition
uron the nearest Sofa
Very different was now tlc aspect Of Mrs ocIdync
from that of the proud. cold sefcoutaincd woman Of
a moment ago MI her energy and spirit seemed to
have deserted her and She looked the picture OF h'p
her face had disappeared. revealing character OF
voakucss irrcsolution, and even l-cblcne,s. Her
features longer handsome. but rather showed
the remains Of soft. tender. girlsh Kind Of beauty
half oblclatcd by life Of hardship and unhappiness
She presented in fact glimpse Of her true self; tie
Mary Ianncrrnan who had married John ochdyne ten
wear, aso: woman designed by nature TO be gentle,
tender loving wifi, and mother but transformed by
harhuos aud tyranny Into The scmllaucc Of strange
~ C>,lmilar personality.
Ten years ago! il seemed a century And yet
# was in fact less than years since that fatal day
when Ter husband rough Ludncss-io it would be
proauo 10 dignity his selfish affection for her by ihc
name Of lolc-Vas turned into relentless ds'wst and
tyranny. The visible cause Of This Transformation
She now held ln her a-tatcd haud-a bundle Of letters
written in Ink which was now faded Alas. II they
lad icon written with her hearts blood She would
have suffered less.
There is no occasion to rake up the details Of her
unfortunate filtration with Allan Graham. II was not
generally supposed to be Of serious nature BY those
who knew Of II at the time. A weak glddy, thought
los girl married. against her VIII, 10 man twenty
year, her senior; young soldcrlover Of former DAYS
culpaiJv reckless Of a woman's regulations but mean
!nc. perhaps, no great ham; hercey jealous h''-
band. Of u disposition cruel and yiAdctive-comInon
Ingredients these. IN blcltcd lives and domestic
misery and as Ms OcAdy mes story contains nothing
novel or entertaining viii pass 1t over lightly
as the world did for wondcr-without mpntlns blame
20 any one.
John Ocldyne. however. neither forgot nor forgavc
Ills Liotler William. whether from ba-ely selfish mo
tvc,, from real suspicion bred Of the proncness Of
some contemplate minds to dsbeleyc in innocence
helped TO keep alive this resentment He dd not
separate from his wife indeed he had evidence to
i!,tify an extreme course Bat he gave rein 10 his
harsh ovcIbcarug suspicious nature hc crushed and
handled to the earth the unhappy woman whom &c
Lad sworn TO love and cherish. lie thought himself
justified perhaps IN making her repent bitterly Of her
ndiscrcton and perhaps. may In charity be doubted
whether his vulgar, coarse grained temperament en-
ailcd him 10 realize the f1l extent Of the suffering he
inflicted lie kept Allan Graham's letters, and In
savage moments produced them and tainted her with
them. He held them in terrorism over hcr-thrcaicn-
sng TO show them even though his wife, cowcd as she
vas coud never believe him capable Of this baScneSs
EtIl the very fact Of these compromising documents
cont nung In existence had always haunted Mrs. Ock-
dyuc with uneasy feeling Of insecurity ana She had
appealed over and again in vain to her husband
q 10 destroy them.
John Ockdyne's sudden illness had been totally un-
expected, ard little his wife had cause 10 love him,
She did not hear without emotion the doctors start
ling verdict. But in the nhd5t Of Ter distress the
recollection of those dreadful letters upon her
with painful shock, for her husband had moro than
told her with significance that he had appointed
his brother william executor Of his Will Horlled at
the prospect that her LrOthernlaw, whom She could
not but regard her enemy, knowing his hostile IN
fUcnce upon her husband, would obtain possession Of
tho letters she had yielded TO irresistible impulse
which urged her to secure them While yot there
time.
Having accomplished her object, the poor lady
considerably frightened at what she had DONE for her
OF her husband oycrshaAowed her. even though
NJ lay helpless at deaths door before her eyes Tho
possibility Of his recovery suggested startling rcfcc
tons TO her agated mind whilo she dreaded scarcely
less her action being found ont by her brotLcrinlaw
Tho dcmeanor Of the latter, which, to her excited i'm
aglnatOn, seemed plainly to Indicate some suspicion
OF what She had been doing increased her uneasy ap
prehensons, and she grateful indeed to avail her
scf Of the doctors interference and TO dee from Will
fam OcBdynos hated presence.